Lee classic cast vs RCBS Rockchucker

Mine is called Classic Cast breachlock, where would it stand?
I also use a Lee Challenger Breachlock, which is exclusively used for bullet seating on my powdering table.
I like it due to it’s small size it fits neatly next to my automatic powder setup.
And i can confirm, my breachlock challenger is much much smoother than my classic cast breachlock.

Which should be the other way around since the challenger is the cheapest of the two.
Seeing that RCBS RC supreme are made in China i don’t feel it anymore.

Now looking more into Redding big boss 2.
At that price point i am getting closer to Forster Co-Ax, which i have my doubts for neck sizing using a collet die...
 
The RC is a gold standard in single station reloading presses. The RC has more leverage and is more robust than any Lee press, and most likely outlasts the Lee.

OTOH the LEE cast presses will do about everything as well as the RC with the possible exception of some heavy case reforming, and the Lee presses cost substantially less.

OTOH#2, I have better "feel" in some situations with the LEE simply because it doesn't have as much leverage as the RCBS.
 
To me, the gritty feel is from machining on the ram. If you take the time to look, it look's rough.
Probably made that way to make sure any carbon/grit is cycled thru the press body and come's out the bottom. Regular oiling will help flush it all thru
 
nevanevan said:
I have often thought my Lee classic cast was as smooth as my coax. I think some people are confusing the classic cast with the cheaper breachlock press, which I've had and was gritty and cheap. The CLASSIC CAST is very smooth, ambidextrous to the max, has excellent primer disposal (probably the best of all presses matched only by the Redding), and best of all it is value priced.
Click to expand...

I got my classic cast for $99 when they were first released, was never rough in use. It's a very heavy duty press, I have no idea how many thousands of rounds I've loaded on it.
I still prefer threading dies into a press, never been a fan of breech lock presses. I have no issues with it, it loads accurate ammo every time, and I imagine it will outlast me and anyone else it gets inherited to.
The only RCBS I feel would be an upgrade to it is the Summit.
 
I use a Lee Classic Cast and I find it to be a great press. It is very smooth, functions well, and the ram is drilled through so primers all fall straight down into the collection tube. I much prefer it to the RockChucker/primer flinger.

I do find myself looking at Redding Big Boss’s once in a while. I think if I was to “upgrade” that’s the press I’d go with. Unless I moved to a turret press in which case it’d likely be a T-7.

There is a difference between the Lee Classic Cast and the Classic Cast Breechlock as the Breechlock has a different primer system for some reason.
 
Been loading for more than 35 yrs. About 5 yrs ago I purchased a Lee classic cast. Great press, no issues with it at all, super strong, great primer catcher system, among some of the features. I f you want to up grade then the Forster co-ax is an upgrade.The RCBS Rock C is just a lateral move, most certainly not an upgrade.
 
Right now i have tossed the RCBS RC aside, as they are now made in China.
Looking between co-ax and big boss 2.
Reading lot’s of posts (other forums) from guys having a hard time lee collet neck size with the co-ax.
The one i tried myself wasn’t optimal, it may have just been badly set up too.
 
What about the T7?

I have a RC, it's decent. Hate the depriming, as it likes to spit spent primers on the floor. I use cardboard stuffed in the ram to help with that. I notice I can create flex with the unit. If the bullet is not seated quite all the way, I can give it some more muscle and seat it more. I think about making a stop for it off my bench but this flex actually is a bit of a help sometimes. I may make a stop regardless.
 
To be honest, I never saw what a turret press would give me more.
Got the Dillon 650 with the full array of accessories for pistol and bulk 223, single stage for precision 223/308, worked in batches.
As in, 1 evening I decap, 1 evening I body size, 1 evening I neck size and so on. Under a week I can make 2-3 months worth of precision ammo if I get to it every evening.

In this optic, still got a hard time seeing what turret would do for me.
 
The Redding Ultramag would be a nice press too I bet. Like all the open access to the shellholder/cartridge and again a smart primer containment system.

Marty the advantages i see to the turret press is mostly just in that you can leave a caliber or two setup in a turret and never take dies out again. Obviously this makes more sense for some loaders than others.
 
MartyK2500 said:
Right now i have tossed the RCBS RC aside, as they are now made in China.
Looking between co-ax and big boss 2.
Reading lot’s of posts (other forums) from guys having a hard time lee collet neck size with the co-ax.
The one i tried myself wasn’t optimal, it may have just been badly set up too.
Click to expand...

The trick is to get the conversion bracket for shell holders. Works great with the collet die after that
 
MartyK2500 said:
To be honest, I never saw what a turret press would give me more.
Got the Dillon 650 with the full array of accessories for pistol and bulk 223, single stage for precision 223/308, worked in batches.
As in, 1 evening I decap, 1 evening I body size, 1 evening I neck size and so on. Under a week I can make 2-3 months worth of precision ammo if I get to it every evening.

In this optic, still got a hard time seeing what turret would do for me.
Click to expand...

As we all know Marty, this reloading thing always has new twists and turns. For me, I have learnt recently about not making ammo up ahead of time for real precision. Depending on the process of cleaning, lubing, and annealing, that the bullet can weld to the brass in time. Maybe weld is a strong term but you get the idea. So it seems that it’s possible to have a load that does not perfectly match once it has sat for a duration. A turret would make sense as you could potentially increase your reloads per hour when needed. Of course only if the T7 can make great ammo. ( I assume it can. )
For my RC press, I try to have my brass ready up to but not including the neck. Then try and load things as I need it from there. I have also read some people intentionally load the bullets long, and finish up the seating process just before needing the ammo.
I have not went though testing this first hand, but it’s interesting non the less. I also use dry graphite in the necks before seating, maybe this would help with the potential “welding”
 
Lead hammer said:
As we all know Marty, this reloading thing always has new twists and turns. For me, I have learnt recently about not making ammo up ahead of time for real precision. Depending on the process of cleaning, lubing, and annealing, that the bullet can weld to the brass in time. Maybe weld is a strong term but you get the idea. So it seems that it’s possible to have a load that does not perfectly match once it has sat for a duration. A turret would make sense as you could potentially increase your reloads per hour when needed. Of course only if the T7 can make great ammo. ( I assume it can. )
For my RC press, I try to have my brass ready up to but not including the neck. Then try and load things as I need it from there. I have also read some people intentionally load the bullets long, and finish up the seating process just before needing the ammo.
I have not went though testing this first hand, but it’s interesting non the less. I also use dry graphite in the necks before seating, maybe this would help with the potential “welding”
Click to expand...

This is an interesting concept indeed, i had never thought of that one.
For 1, i rarely load for more than 2 months in advance, but still, i will research this more.
Right now is a good example to test too, as i’m on sick leave as i have had surgery.
And right before getting operated, i had made some 300 rounds or so, and didn’t shoot them all obviously.
I tend to think that since my process involves dry tumbling with polish media, and that my casings feel slippery, this could elongate shelf life, but may be wrong on this.

Anyways still an interesting concept, and until i have fully researched it, will bring my ammo to the primed phase in big batches.
Then powder and seat bullets as the season goes.


nevanevan said:
The trick is to get the conversion bracket for shell holders. Works great with the collet die after that
Click to expand...

Do you have a link to this conversion bracket or it’s specific name please?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom